Biography

Basia is a jazz-pop singer from London, although she is originally from Poland. Basia is her performing name. Her full name is Basia Trzetrzelewska. She has had a successful solo career performing under the name Basia along with composer/keyboardist Danny White. She has also been associated with the…more

Trivia and Quotes

Trivia

One of Basia's musical inspirations is Astrud Gilberto, who sang the famous song "The Girl From Ipanema" on the 1963 "Getz/Gilberto" Brazilian jazz album. Basia wrote the song "Astrud" in tribute, on the "Time and Tide" album.

After almost 20 years, Basia and Danny White reformed the original Matt Bianco group with Mark Reilly in 2003. They recorded the new album "Matt's Mood," which was released in Europe and Japan in May 2004. In March 2005, it was released in the U.S. with the group name of "Matt Bianco featuring Basia."

Basia's third solo album, "The Sweetest Illusion" (1994), continued her exploration of Brazilian and jazz music, along with personal stories and thoughts. Her lyrics are almost like a diary. Unlike some self-indulgent singer-songwriters, she does not engage in self-pity or aggressive politics. She chooses to sing about her thoughts on love ("Third Time Lucky") and her feelings about events in her life ("An Olive Tree"). The musical arrangements were more adventurous than on her previous albums. Unfortunately the album did not sell as well as her previous albums, although it was still successful artistically.

Basia's second solo album, "London Warsaw New York" (1990), continued the success of her first album, "Time and Tide" (1987). Basia and Danny White moved away from the synthesizer bass lines of the first album toward a more natural Brazilian jazz-pop sound. She includes jazzy, upbeat numbers ("Until You Come Back to Me"), ballads ("Brave New Hope") and introspective, mid-tempo songs ("Cruising for Bruising").

(explaining her inactivity between 1995 and 2003 in an April 2005 interview with the San Antonio Express)Basia: Lots of reasons, but mainly because I suffered tragic losses that dislodged me. My mother's death was a shock to me. I thought she would be around forever; she had so much vitality. She was such a force behind my work, a big fan and supporter. Seven months later my young cousin was killed in a car crash. Then all the things that happened in the world, 9-11, war, I couldn't go on stage and sing happy songs. I didn't even feel like singing to myself.

After her 1994 album, "The Sweetest Illusion," and 1995 live album, "Basia on Broadway," Basia entered a period of semi-retirement. During this period, she recorded a few new songs for the greatest hits album, "Clear Horizon-The Best of Basia" (1998), and appeared on albums from other groups, including Spyro Gyra's "Got the Magic" (1999). She was largely inactive until 2003, when Matt Bianco reformed.

Basia and her musical partner, Danny White, were once romantically involved, but no longer. Her album, "Time and Tide" (1987) describes their relationship. Their next album, "London Warsaw New York" (1990), detailed their breakup.

Though she sings primarily in English, Basia often adds lines or verses in her native Polish language in her songs. Some examples include the songs "Half a Minute," "Copernicus," "Reward," "Olive Tree," "Yearning," and "Ordinary Day."

Basia's first solo album, Time and Tide, became a hit in Europe and in the United States, where it went platinum. The singles "New Day for You" and "Time and Tide" helped to move the album up the music charts. Time and Tide combined "cocktail" jazz, new wave, pop and Brazilian samba into an accessible and successful mix. The album was released in 1987.

Matt Bianco was formed in 1983 from the remnants of Blue Rondo a la Turk, by Danny White, Matt Reilly and Kito Poncioni. Matt Bianco is a fictional name intended to evoke 60s spy-movie soundtracks. The group also incorporated swing jazz and new wave pop. Basia was recruited as one of singers. Their first album, Whose Side Are You On, became a hit, as did the singles "Half a Minute," "Get Out of Your Lazy Bed," and "Whose Side Are You On." Because she had little creative input, Basia left the group after just one album. Danny White joined her as Basia embarked on her solo career.

Quotes

(Discussing Matt Bianco, a fictional name for the band inspired by 1960's spy movies; the band includes Basia, Danny White and Mark Reilly)Basia: The joke kind of wore out, but the name stayed. They were very into ... '60s spy music and lots of bongos from 'Mission Impossible.' That was the idea initially — it all evolved and changed.

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